Candles lit during a condolence meeting in New Delhi on March 7 for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed in U.S.-Israel joint strikes.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Congress on Friday (March 13, 2026) questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “hesitancy” in criticising the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei by the United States and Israel, while endorsing India’s condemnation of Iran over its attacks on other Gulf countries.
In a social media post on X, Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh said Mr. Modi as well as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had not condemned the U.S.-Israel action.
“Ayatollah Khamenei, the constitutional head of State in Iran, was assassinated on February 28, 2026 by the U.S. and Israel. The PM is silent. The EAM is silent. Parliament is yet to have an obituary reference,” Mr. Ramesh said on his X handle.
“India has rightly condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states but is completely quiet on the U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran in the first place. It should be remembered that Iran is a part of the BRICS+ forum, which India holds the presidency for this year,” the Congress communications chief added.
Drawing a comparison, he said the government had declared a day of state mourning and later recorded an obituary reference in Parliament after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a “mysterious helicopter crash in May 2024”.
“Why the hesitancy now? A compromised PM no doubt wants to avoid antagonising his American and Israeli ‘friend’,” Mr. Ramesh claimed.
His remarks come after the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC), on March 11, adopted Resolution 2817 condemning Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations and demanding that Tehran immediately halt strikes on countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions — Russia and China — while none voted against.
Published – March 13, 2026 04:54 pm IST
